Students love to talk about the nature of sin, and seem to have more questions about their own beliefs as the unit progresses. As a teacher, it is always rewarding to watch students carefully consider their own belief systems. Students have often written to me years after the course to tell me how much they valued and remembered the unit. This is a true Kudo to Dante, himself, though, as this text is THAT engaging and timeless.
The first step on our journey through the unknown is to evaluate what we already believe about all issues concerning sin, heaven, hell, etc. The students fill out a survey with the following 10 questions:
1. Do you believe in the concept of sin? If so, define "sin." If not, why not?
2. Do you believe in God or a "higher power"? Why or why not?
3. If you believe in the concept of sin, are there some sins that are worse than others?
4. If you believe in the concept of sin, are there some sins that can not be forgiven?
5. Why do bad things happen to good people?
6. Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? Why or why not?
7. What happens to the soul after the physical body dies?
8. Do you believe in Heaven and/or Hell? Why or why not?
9. What happens to a soul of a person that has committed suicide?
10. Do we judge people by their occupations (judge, lawyer, actress, etc.)?
The responses to these questions are always fascinating. In the 17 years I have been teaching (mostly at the college level), the responses are never consistent. On average, there are 2 students per class that are atheist or agnostic. On average, there are about 2 students that are born-again Christians. The rest fall somewhere in between.
What impressed me most today, though, was that one group of students actively sought out our campus chaplain to discuss the issues. They wanted to know his take. It was totally learning in motion. They went and tracked him down, brought him in, and listened. It was kind of cool.
So, what I learned today....students do care about these sorts of issues, but they don't have many places where they can actually talk about them. Some of them are looking for answers; others are still forming questions.
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